Bishops Printers “invests in people” with new scheme

Bishops Printers has launched a new wave of investment targeted at boosting opportunities for young people entering the print industry.

Under the leadership of production director, Paul Cull, the Portsmouth-based print service provider (PSP) aims to place an apprentice in every department of the company’s factory. As the company puts it, the investment aims to invest “not in machines, but in people.”

The initiative is designed to reimagine how apprenticeships can drive both professional growth and team morale. By expanding its apprenticeship scheme to every department, it aims to create a cycle of learning, support, and shared success for the apprentices across the entire company.

Speaking of the new scheme, Cull says: “Apprentices bring a fresh perspective and energy that’s vital for the future of print – but this isn’t just about training new recruits.

“This is about creating a culture where experienced staff are valued as mentors, knowledge is passed on, and everyone feels part of something bigger.”

An apprentice in the print room has already been hired – Lavinia Tewkesbury, known as Vinnie by the team. According to the company, she has “quickly become a catalyst for change,” inspiring her team and her mentors with “a strong work ethic and seemingly insatiable curiosity.”

Keith Kirby, Tewkesbury’s lead mentor and one of Bishops’ most experienced printers with over 40 years at the company, says that the apprenticeship scheme is “the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.

He adds: “Vinnie is fantastic. She challenges me, she listens, she asks questions, and she makes me laugh. She’s changed the atmosphere in the print room.”

Fellow mentor, Simon White, adds: “Having someone like Vinnie around makes you look again at everything you know and why it matters. It’s reminded us just how much we have to offer.”

Tewkesbury first joined Bishops as a folder operator, where her enthusiasm and attention to detail reportedly stood out.

She was then invited to join the print room to expand her skills, progressing to the point where she now runs a HEIDELBERG B2 Speedmaster XL75 ten-colour perfector independently.

Speaking of her time at Bishops, Tewkesbury says: “There’s so much to learn, every shift there’s something new.

“I always knew I didn't want a desk job, but it never occurred to me that I could be a printer. I’m on my feet all day, which I enjoy, and it’s busy – which is great. Keith and Simon are so enthusiastic about teaching me, which makes such a difference.”

The apprenticeship programme at Bishops is built around the industry recognised Level 3 Advanced Standard for Print Technicians, a 28-month course combining monthly onsite training with hands-on experience in the pressroom.

The next intake will target 17- and 18-year-olds, aiming to support young people who might not see a place for themselves in manufacturing.

Speaking about the future of the scheme, Cull adds: “Our aim is for each apprentice to one day mentor someone new. That way, we create a self-sustaining model of learning and leadership.

“We want them to know there is a future here, and it’s one worth building.”